By Pauline Neville
Clare Curran is the talented artist behind “Let Me Doodle That For You”. Her preferred medium is illustration, which she reproduces as beautiful prints for home decor, stationery and cards. Clare is always seeking out new inspiration and to this end, will happily work on commissions.
Clare lived for a while in Manchester during her time at university, her background including a degree in Graphic Design and an MA in Creative Technology. After studying she found that there were was no work to be had without experience but she couldn’t get an opportunity to gain experience either.
Fortunately at a networking night at university, she met the head of the design department who gave her a job designing materials for the university, which gave her that all important step on the career ladder. The next 25 years saw her embark on a successful career as a digital designer creating websites and mobile apps with interactive touchscreens for companies like Coca-Cola and Toyota. Her favourite gig from this period was working on Toyota’s exhibition space in Paris as she could witness users experiencing her creations and enjoying them. The piece of work won an award.
Due to a change in circumstances, Clare became a freelance designer, working predominantly with her midwife sister building a range of pregnancy products under the brand of bitbaby. Being freelance has allowed her to have more time, time to draw. She had always drawn but had never done anything with it.She set to work building her stock and her brand and researching where her work would sit well and who her audience should be. This gave her more time for walks in the local parks, where she discovered much inspiration in nature. Here too she discovered the Reader Group at The Mansion House. The Reader Book Shop itself became the focus of her work and after drawing the shop, the group approached her and asked if they could use the image to put on their tote bags.
Increasingly she grew in confidence and by Summer 2023, had amassed enough work to hold a market stall of her own. At first she was very nervous but the customers and other stallholders were so supportive, encouraging her to try other venues and suggesting other subject matter.
“Now I have a few under my belt I can honestly say that each event provides a new opportunity to surround myself with like minded supportive women.” she tells me.
At an exhibition on Women’s Employment History at the National Trust’s Quarry Bank Mill, Clare discovered that at birth, a woman should expect to be in debt to the tune of £18,000* which will be the anticipated cost of period products and associated necessities. Another major inequality that women face in a lifetime.
She says, “This made me think even more about how woman should look after one another and I believe that in Liverpool’s creative community this is realised. It is such a nurturing space and the camaraderie is palpable. We agreed that what customers and makers gain from face to face markets, is learning the reason that the subject of the artwork was chosen, what that place means to someone, in short, the story behind the piece. This leads us to recognise commonalities in people rather than differences and make connections through the art.”
Clare has had very positive feedback on her an Instagram page @letmedoodlethatforyou, where she shows her processes in time lapse, her followers find this very restful. We’ve all faced that blank page looking for inspiration and such online demonstrations can often kick start a journey of creativity in an unexpected direction, providing fresh inspiration. Clare has benefitted on occasion from online challenges such as “a flower a day” to kick start her drawing.
A good friend recommended Clare for a teaching position in Chester recently. Keen to share her talent and enthusiasm, she currently tutors a group of adults. She finds the group a joy to spend time with as they are so positive and talented. They have inspired her to develop this field further and she hopes to teach more classes, perhaps offering online tuition… you heard it here first.
Clare tells me that she passed a Redwood tree in Sefton park and must have looked at it 1000 times before a swimming buddy requested a drawing that she has now been working on for the past month.
Clare finds drawing a mindful occupation, she is never happier than when she can surround herself in nature and beauty, be inspired and feel truly rested and we think it shows in her work.
Join us at Liverpool Makers Bazaar at the Old Police station on 1 September, meet Clare and engage with her wonderful artwork and decide for yourself.
Note: *Huffington Post.